Camping Trip

We went camping at Waylen Island Park near Pacific City last weekend. It was our first family camp out, and we had a blast. Benton even put a bucket on his head on the way up. We had the camp site to ourselves Friday afternoon. It was fun setting up camp and soaking up the sun. More of our party arrived later Friday night--the Rowles, the Kings, the Taylors, and the Thomases--the Ills joined us for the day on Saturday.

Benton "roughing it" with bacon, eggs, hashbrowns and apple pancakes for breakfast (in his very own green coleman camping chair with a sippy cup holder).










Helping Mommy put the dishes away. 

The gang's all here!

There were twenty three of us at last count. We ate and clammed and ate and gabbed and ate and hiked and ate and flew kites and did I mention there was a lot of food? It was really fun bonding!!


 

Friends

Benton and the pastor's daughter, Aleeah, try to make a break for it over the log.






Benton hangin' with the big boys, Wyatt and Hunter.








Jazzmine helps Benton fly a kite.









Cole and Benton enjoy some watermelon. 

For the Love of Melon

It turns out, Benton really enjoys watermelon, and who can blame him? It all started with his mother forgetting a bowl. I brought a gigantic melon, but nothing to put it in once it was cut up, so I stole Benton's prized bucket. The only thing he loves more than that bucket is the fruit inside. In the first picture, he is pollishing off the last few slices (note the rind behind him on the ground) . The second picture was taken after he had dumped the rest on the contents on his head. When he came up for air, all he could say was "yummy!" And at last, I tortured the child by washing the juice out of his hair using said bucket as my water distribution device. He wasn't too happy about that one.
 

Life's a Beach

Brent and Chanda invited us to stay Wednesday night with them in Pacific City. It was so much fun. We didn't get there until eight, but decided to walk on the beach anyway. Benton loved the sand. We got back to the house at about 10. We stayed up roasting marshmallows and building supreme s'mores (with peanut butter and bananas. Yum). There was alot of laughing. Something about "Choosy Moms choose KJV," and "When you care enough to read the very best, KJV." Maybe you had to be there. Anyway, we were up way past our bed time.

 

Beach Bum

Brent and Chanda got Benton a bucket and shovel to play with on the beach. The boy was beside himself with glee. Chanda and I tried to walk to the sand dune, but our progress was impeded by one very excited boy. He would take five steps, scoop up a shovel full of sand, run away from and incoming wave then chase it back out, run to me so he could put the sand in the bucket (repeat process through infinity). Finally his little camo pants got so wet they were tripping him and making him do belly flops on the sand. While all involved found the specticle amusing (including the belly flop victim), I finally took mercy on him. He contunued on in his diaper. At long last, he grew tired of the running an plopped himself down right in the way of the incoming tide and shoveled away. I think he would still be there if it were up to him.


 

Any Day Now!

Brent and Chanda's baby girl is expected on the 12th of this month. We are so excited to meet her! (Aren't they cute?!) 

Happy 4th of July!

We celebrated 4th of July with a BBQ at our house with a bunch of food, friends, family, and fireworks. I didn't get many pictures because it is difficult to be both hostess and photographer. In the first photo, Benton is "helping" Paul set up the fireworks, and in the second, the kids are gathered around one of those smoking snake things. Benton din't like it much. He kept saying "No snake. No snake..." That's my boy! 

Baby's First Baseball Game

We aquired some tickets to see the Keizer Volcanoes last week. It was really fun. Benton loved being able to yell whenever he wanted and watching them hit the ball. Our seats were right over the enemy dugout, so we had a great view. Benton made friends with everyone around us (shocker!). He had a little trouble keeping the flip down seat flipped down, but he got it figured out. The Volcanoes won 6-4 which was great nes for us, because as soon as they got that fifth run, we all got cupons for free Famous Star Burgers at Carl's JR. That was definately a highlight... We're going again next week. It's not exactly Yankee Stadium, note the empty seats, but it was still fun!